Search results

The NPA GLOW 2.0 Green energy technologies for tourism growth project coordinated by Karelia University of Applied Sciences encourages and helps companies and public organizations to increase the tourist attraction for the darkest times of the year.

Olli Reijonen, an entrepreneur familiar with astronomical objects, viewing, and photography, has established a dark sky protection area at his old family farm. Light pollution has no impact on the area so visitors to the site can experience complete darkness, among other, also get acquainted with variations of the astronomical objects including northern lights which you wouldn’t imagine exists.

In the GLOW2.0 project, we want to do meaningful work and promote the activities of tourism operators in our regions. That is why we have prepared a survey with which we map the real development needs in the area.

Unlit sky, natural light, darkness, celestial signs, known and unknown stars, planets... Astrotourism - what is it? Learn more about these at the Dark Sky festival in Kaavi, Juuka and Tuusniemi between 15 – 17th September.

Researcher and entrepreneur Olli Reijonen's speech and three international documentary films shed light on the importance of protecting darkness of nature/ dark skies. Thanks for the cooperation Pohjois-Karjalan elokuvayhdistys - North Karelia Film Association!

This time light pollution and lighting technology were discussed, sometimes even deviating a little to the side of philosophy. You'll have to wait a little longer for the podcast to be released 📻!

NPA GLOW2.0 international webinar "Embracing Dark Skies in Northern Periphery and Arctic Region" took place on 30.4.2024. The webinar attracted over 100 participants with registrations from six out of seven member states of the NPA area 🌌.

Matkailuyrittäjien sparrauspäivä Kolilla ti 27.8.2024 klo 9-15, etäosallistuminen mahdollista klo 9-11 Koli Freetime, Kopravaarantie 27, 83950 Ahmovaara

Miten otetaan tähtitaivaan hyödyntäminen osaksi liiketoimintaa? Mistä ja miten pitäisi aloittaa, entäpä riittääkö osaamiseni? Näihinkin kysymyksiin saat vastauksen kokeneiden toimijoiden opastuksella. Työpajan toteuttavat yritykset edustavat tähtitaivaan ilmiöiden tutkimisen, revontulimatkailun kaupallistamisen pohjoista osaamista.

Interested about Responsible and regenerative tourism? Welcome to GLOW2.0 symposium for Iceland focusing on challenges and opportunities for responsible and regenerative tourism in Northern Periphery and Arctic.

GLOW2.0 project partner Samtök sveitarfélaga á Norðurlandi vestra (SSNV) hosted the project's third learning journey which took place during 8.-9.10.2024 in Iceland. The learning journey kick-started with a bus drive from Reykjavík to the charming town of Blönduós where we were warmly welcomed by northern lights upon arrival. We spent the first two nights in Blönduós before our return to Reykjavík via Sauðárkrókur town. The weather favored us during the whole learning journey, offering the best views and experiences of Icelandic nature and dark skies related experiences.

The International Conference for Sustainable Resource Society, a multi-disciplinary conference focusing on challenges of sustainability transitions in society, environmental change, and sustainable use of natural resources, took place on 31 October - 1 November 2024 in Joensuu, Finland. The conference consisted joint plenaries and parallel thematic sessions. GLOW2.0 project representative participated the joint plenary, Circular Economy Ecosystems and Sustainability session, and the Ecosystem Services, and Social Dynamics in Tourism, Recreation, and Resource Management session. Great insights from the conference! GLOW2.0 will publish a more detail reflection on learnings basing on own themes. Image: Eeva Hellström's presentation.

GLOW2.0 project’s Lead Partner, Karelia University of Applied Sciences participated “Under One Sky” conference event by Dark Sky International that took place 8.-9.11.2024. The conference gathered over 1,000 individuals from 53 countries across the globe. Mayo Dark Sky Park, Ireland’s first International Dark Sky Park and GLOW2.0’s associated partner, received a well-deserved "Dark Sky Park of the Year" recognition award at the conference. A huge congratulation to Mayo Dark Sky Park for its award and continued dedication to GLOW2.0 project!

Team GLOW2.0 would like to wish all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2025!

Numerous sources like the BBC and Booking.com have predicted the key tourism trends for 2025 as being; off-the-beaten-track travel, Noctourism (nighttime travel experiences), Coolcation and Calmcation (quiet destinations). The trends and customer demands are there, but how can we harness the unique elements that our regions have to offer to attract tourists during the low season? The webinar will explore the international demand for low season travel and offer inspiring examples of how to create transformational tourism experiences. The webinar is aimed at tourism companies, destinations, tour operators and other tourism professionals. The webinar will be recorded, and the link will be sent to all registered participants. The webinar brings two Interreg projects; Light in the Dark and GLOW 2.0, together on the themes of seasonality in rural tourism and dark sky tourism. The projects, financed by Interreg BSR and Interreg NPA respectively, work in eight countries: Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

NPA GLOW2.0 project partners from Finland and Iceland will be represented at the Arctic Frontiers conference event in Tromsø, Norway. The Interreg Arctic Clustering call session will take place on 28th January 2025 at 8:30 - 10:00 CET. The session will be provided as a Hybrid event; online and in-person in Tromsø.

Miten otetaan tähtitaivaan hyödyntäminen osaksi liiketoimintaa? Mistä ja miten pitäisi aloittaa, entäpä riittääkö osaamiseni? Näihinkin kysymyksiin saat vastauksen kokeneiden toimijoiden opastuksella. Työpajan toteuttavat yritykset edustavat tähtitaivaan ilmiöiden tutkimisen, revontulimatkailun kaupallistamisen pohjoista osaamista. Etätyöpajan toteuttaa Arctic Stargazing Tours ja sen sisältöön kuuluu neljän alan ammattilaisen puheenvuorot. Työpaja on suunniteltu tuottamaan osallistujille tarvittavaa tietotaitoa pimeän taivaan tuotteistamiseen, sen alla toimimiseen vastuullisesti ja luomaan verkostoa omalle toiminnalleen.

Webinar Regional and Global Approaches to Dark Sky Tourism on 25 March 2025 at 13-15 will provide an overview of tourism strategies in Eastern Finland and the opportunities that dark skies offer for tourism in our region.

At the end of January 2025, the Arctic Frontiers 2025 conference took place in Tromsø. During this event, the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) and Interreg Aurora programs held a joint session to introduce a new funding model aimed at enhancing synergy and cooperation among stakeholders in the Arctic and comparable regions. The event featured a keynote speech by Carina Sammeli, Chair of the Luleå City Council, who emphasized the importance of cooperation in northern regions, followed by a panel dicussion. The panel discussion, which included representatives from successful projects, focused on combining Interreg resources and expertise for the best results in the Arctic. The GLOW2.0 project, coordinated by Karelia University of Applied Sciences, was represented by Tarja Kupiainen and Davíð Jóhannsson.

GLOW2.0 self study modules focuse on awareness and understanding about Dark Sky and Dark Sky Tourism themes and concepts. Modules aim to help target groups, SMEs in tourism, develop and enhance service offers. All study modules are freely available and require no registration.